The Ensuring Council: An alternative vision for the future of local government

An alternative vision for the future of local government

As local authorities strive to address the impacts on their communities of the economic downturn and reductions in public spending, a debate is taking place about alternative visions of the future shape of local government itself.

APSE’s model of the ‘Ensuring Council’ endorses the role of local authorities as stewards of local wellbeing, recognises the strategic advantages of a strong core of in-house services delivered in collaboration rather in competition with alternative providers and grounding local decisions in politics and the values of social justice.

This research study tested support for these principles among elected members and officers across local government. It found marked opposition to the model of the ‘Enabling Council.’ In contrast, local officers and councillors demonstrated broad support for the vision of the ‘Ensuring Council’, with three different viewpoints emerging as to how APSE might take its model forward.

Promoting excellence in public services

APSE (Association for Public Service Excellence) is a not for profit unincorporated association working with over 300 councils throughout the UK. Promoting excellence in public services, APSE is the foremost specialist in local authority frontline services, hosting a network for frontline service providers in areas such as waste and refuse collection, parks and environmental services, cemeteries and crematorium, environmental health, leisure, school meals, cleaning, housing and building maintenance.